So Grateful
Today my heart is full to overflowing with thanksgiving. The gratefulness is tangible, present and so real. From the packing up of the caravan and preparing the home for departure, I was aware I had never felt more ready for a getaway. Obviously, the yearning was so strong that as I wrote last week describing what I was expecting on the way, it was as though I was living it in the moment. For every scene and scent was exactly as described. In the passing of each kilometre my smile grew wider, my joy percolated and the childlike excitement stirred afresh.
The beautifully positioned haybales, the burnished hills, the pastoral calm of sheep and cattle grazing in the summer sun. What a sweet and inviting country scent it is. Oh, that first triangle of greeny-blue ocean in the distance, held and framed between the browning hills, stirred the butterflies of anticipation and excitement within.
Nothing could have been more perfect as we journeyed closer to our destination of freedom camping at Ngawi. A quick and quiet prayer as we left home for the perfect campsite, close to the water. Thank you.
That moment when a glimpse and opportunity to survey the prospect of where we will park, revealed the perfect spot. Even the backing in was a dream! The site could not have been more idyllic. The weather – glorious. Expansive blue sky, lake like calmness of the water with just a gently lapping sounding against the rocks. A whispered “Thank you, thank you.”
A quick set up of shade sail awning and chairs and there before us, right there at the camp site, beauty that takes the breath away. What a sight for sore eyes! Nothing to do here but rest, read, sleep and breathe in the air, drink in the spectacular beauty all around and allow oneself to be revived. For the first time I understood how an older person can sit on a porch or in the front yard and watch the world go by. Such great contentment in just ‘being.’ Just receiving, resting, drinking it all in. With every breath – thank you. Thank you.
Another blessing was the beautiful people around us. People notice something and come and have a chat and ask a question or answer a query. An easy conversation of similar interests which often leads to the offer of a drink. The generosity of people who catch their own kai (food)! A gift of paua on the first day, had me admitting that I had never taken paua out of its shell, let alone prepared or cooked it. This kind soul declared she would cook it for us. Sometime later her little daughter delivered a bowl of Thai style thinly sliced paua prepared with rice, chilli oil and fried eggs! Needless to say my husband was chuffed!
The next day a gift of filleted white fish from another camper and later that day again, a gift of paua from someone who wanted to use our CRC for his spear gun. He gave my husband instructions on how to prepare the paua for the barbecue. Kind people. Thank you.
Our turn to bless, when a couple from New Caledonia set up their site at the ocean’s edge and we were able to offer them some of our Boerewors, South African sausage, freshly barbecued. That lead to drinks together back in our caravan as the temperature had dropped on our last night and the wind had whipped up. Cooler outside but warm inside the caravan and inside our hearts as we delighted in the conversation and heard their beautiful story and saw their wedding photos. We helped them with their English which was a lot better than our French!
As we farewelled the people we had been camped next to, including the French couple, hugs all round. How beautiful is that? Thank you.
How refreshing simple pleasures can be. How beautiful people can be. How wonderful a break away can be. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
As I retire from my administrator’s role at the hospital today, I can feel that bubble of excitement stir – where to next week? Thank you.
